Helping from the heart
A year ago, 21-year-old neuroscience student Alesha Pyers was fighting for her life in Dunedin Hospital after what was almost a six-year lost war against mental illness.
Now, between studying fashion design fulltime at Otago Polytechnic and working up to 30 hours a week, Pyers is managing the rapid growth of her accessory business, which helps to raise awareness of suicide and mental health.
In 2017, Pyers moved from Nelson to study neuroscience at the University of Otago, but after her recovery she chose to pursue her love of fashion design at Otago Polytechnic, where she began in February.
Pyers launched her business Alesha Kerry Collections in June, selling earrings shaped as the electrical pulse of a heartbeat to signify the importance of life.
‘‘I wanted them to be eye-catching,’’ she said. ‘‘It’s really about sparking a conversation about mental health.
‘‘Often people that are struggling are not always going to reach out to things like helpline necessarily, they’re just going to be reaching out to the people around them.’’
The earrings come in small or large sizes in a range of colours, priced at $33 to $35 a pair. Pyers donates $5 from every pair to charities or Givealittle pages related to mental health. She runs the business through her Instagram account @aleshakerrycollections but is working with a friend on a website that she hopes will be ready in the next few weeks.
Pyers was planning to launch the account on June 17, exactly a year on from her admission to hospital, but decided to start a week early when Givealittle page ‘‘Bring Danielle home’’ was created, by a family seeking funds to return the body of a young Nelson woman who had committed suicide in Australia.
Since then, she has been working hard to raise money for other charities, particularly Voices of Hope, a non-profit movement that promotes hope for those struggling with mental illness.
Pyers makes the earrings using a laser cutter in the polytech’s Experiment Production Innovation Construction Centre, with help from the workshop technician Ken Wybers, who said he has been happy to support her.
She has also received overwhelming help from friends, family and others who have heard about her project, such as a design student in Wellington who offered to do her branding for free; her boss, who provided funding to help her get started; and her family and boyfriend, who have helped her keep up with orders.
‘‘So many people reach out just to help,’’ she said. ‘‘It’s just the most amazing thing, everyone’s sharing the love.’’
Pyers said the process had already proven to be rewarding.
‘‘I’ve had almost as many messages as orders from people sharing their stories and thanking me for making a difference and trying to make a change. It’s so motivating for me.’’
Pyers has big plans on the way, including a collaboration with Nelson company Benjamin Black Goldsmiths to create limited-edition silver and gold pairs. A pure gold, diamond-studded pair will be auctioned, with the proceeds donated to Voices of Hope.